Reading task 1 : Please read the text and answer the 12 questions that follow.
What is your hair texture? You may have wondered why your hair color is just the way it is. Genes make that happen. Living things are different because they have different characteristics. For example microbes such as bacteria, plants, to worms, fungi, algae, millions upon millions of animals. These organisms of the same species together form a population. All the genes in a population is called its gene pool. This can change over time. Generally speaking, the term evolution is “ Change over time.” When the gene pool of a population changes over time, then biological evolution has occurred. Think about a population of goldfish with that solid gold color. Supposed the color changes, then biological evolution has occurred. Biological evolution occurs by four mechanisms: migration, mutation, genetic drift, and natural selection.
A mutation is the change in DNA . Imagine some goldfish with stripes. It could just be a mutation. If the mutation is in the sperm or egg cell, it would certainly be passed on to the next generation leading to biological evolution.
Another mechanism is Migration which is movement into or out of a population. Fish gene pool can change if the population is separated over a long time. Thirdly, Genetic drift is biological evolution by chance. Think about a natural disaster that kills all but a few of the individuals of a population, the next generation would get a different gene pool from the original population just by chance.
Lastly, Natural selection is when physical characteristics that are important for reproduction and survival are passed on more frequently from parent to offspring. The conditions for natural selection is for the organisms to produce more offspring than can survive. However, organisms struggle for existence because there are limited resources limiting them from reproducing to their fullest biotic potential. So, they can not reproduce uncontrollably.
Please respond to the following questions based on the above text
Organisms of the same species together form _____
What is a mutation?
From the passage, you can infer that there are millions of varieties of living things essentially because__
Do you think an animal that CAN NOT blend (camouflage) into its environment will experience natural selection? Explain your answer
According to the passage, how are genes and traits/ characteristics related? Cite evidence from the text to support your answer.
Based on the text, what is the main difference between goldfish with solid gold color and goldfish with stripes?
Making connections between text and world. Use the sentence frame below to make connections with the text.
7.__________ makes me think of ________________ because________-
8.______reminds me of ______________because________.
9. How would natural selection affect the population of striped goldfish if they were better able (than solid goldfish) to avoid predators?
10. If a population is separated over a short time, what would be the effect on its’ gene pool?
11. Compare (SIMILARITY) and contrast (DIFFERENCE) migration and mutation.
12. Describe 3 effects of a sudden decrease in food sources for goldfish in their natural habitat.
